Emergency Savings matters

Progress, Partnerships, and the Future of Emergency Savings

Over the last seven years, Commonwealth has helped advance BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative alongside employers, financial institutions, recordkeepers, researchers, nonprofits, and advocates working to make emergency savings easier to build through the financial systems people already use every day.

What began as an emerging idea has evolved into a growing pillar of workplace financial security. Today, emergency savings solutions are increasingly being integrated into payroll infrastructure, retirement plans, and workplace financial tools across the country.

The newly released ESI Impact Report reflects on the progress, partnerships, and learnings that helped shape this work, including:

Reaching more than 22 million workers with access to emergency savings solutions
Supporting the creation of over $7.9 billion in new liquid savings
Advancing research connecting emergency savings to retirement participation and long-term investing
Shifting industry conversations from whether workplace emergency savings matters to how to implement it effectively

The report also looks ahead at the continued opportunity to expand access to proven emergency savings solutions and strengthen long-term financial stability for working families.

See the Impact

What happens when a national brand invests in emergency savings?

With support from BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative and in partnership with Starbucks, Commonwealth is exploring the real-world impact of workplace savings.

Meet Sabrina, a Starbucks partner in East Texas. When her AC broke, her savings saved the day, and as her goals grew, so did her confidence. Through My Starbucks Savings, she’s been able to handle unexpected expenses while also planning for what’s next.

Her story reflects what we see inside our newest case study, Brewing Financial Security: when savings are simple and connected to payroll, employees don’t just start—they keep going, building both short-term and long-term financial security.

Read the Case Study

Roadmap to Education Savings at Scale: Strategic Opportunities for 529 Accounts

529 plans are one of the most powerful tools available for helping families save for education and build long-term financial security. Yet too many families do not engage, because they are unaware that 529 accounts are available to them, or don't understand how 529s fit into their financial lives and the many options for using 529 funds.

Translation: There are still barriers in awareness, access, and usability when it comes to 529 plans.

Our latest roadmap outlines practical strategies states, employers, and financial institutions can implement right now to expand 529 engagement for families living on low and moderate incomes. From employer engagement and policy innovation to better saver support, the roadmap highlights actionable opportunities to scale education savings more intentionally.

This brief—made possible through Commonwealth’s Benefits for the Future initiative, supported by JPMorganChase— is grounded in research and real-world pilots.

Read the Full Roadmap

Chicago Event: Building Financial Security Through Workplace Benefits & Quality Jobs

Join Commonwealth and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce — with support from JPMorganChase — for an afternoon of peer dialogue and practical insights centered on the future of workplace benefits.

This in-person convening brings together Chicago-area employers, benefits leaders, and community stakeholders to explore how high-quality workplace benefits and job quality strategies drive worker financial security, talent attraction and retention, and long-term business outcomes. The event will feature perspectives from benefits experts, employers, and nonprofits from the Chicagoland area and is designed for senior business leaders who shape benefits strategy and workforce investment decisions.

Learn more and register below.

Register Here